Bilateral sensorineural hearing loss due to mumps

Viral infections implicated in acute hearing loss include rubella, measles, mumps, herpes zoster, cytomegalovirus and influenza. Mumps' deafness is the best documented disorder. We describe a case where bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, following a severe mumps infection at the age of two, remained unnoticed until the age of four when the patient presented with delayed speech and language. This report emphasises the risk of permanent hearing loss as a complication of mumps infection and discusses strategies for early diagnosis and prevention.